I had been looking forward to this show for some time and when I was approved to cover the show I was very excited. As I arrived at the Gothic Theater, one of my favorite venues to cover shows in, the line was already around the block with more people making their way into the line. The air was filled with anticipation as fans talked about the last time they saw Geoff Tate at this very venue a few years back. One more thing stood out, I saw a lot of parents with their kids, I love seeing this at shows.
The stage was set, the fog machines were pouring out and it was time for the opening act to start the night off. Tomas McCarthy singer and songwriter from Ireland along with his wife Clodagh McCarthy and good friend, James Keegan took the stage and opened their set with, “Stand Your Ground” from his upcoming EP, Colours due out on May 30th. Tomas was asked by his good friend Geoff Tate to open for him on this tour. His sound has been described as, “gravelly, blues-laden vocal that lilts with the agility and melisma of his Irish spirit, accompanied by nimble, melodic guitar-playing and raucous, hard-rock based grooves.” Tomas along with his wife Clodagh who was on the saxophone, shared lead vocals as well as they moved through their set. Though their set wasn’t long, I believe they left a wonderful lasting memory for everyone there, including myself.
Tomas MCcarthy - lead vocals - guitar
Wife - Clodagh McCarthy - lead vocals and saxophone
James Keegan - guitar
Setlist:
Stand Your Ground
Siuil a Ruin
Battle My Way
Freedom
Colours
Out On The Western Plains
With a flash of the stage lights, a roar came from the crowd as drummer Baker wearing a mask steps behind his kit raising his hand to the roaring crowd. Then one by one, lead guitarist James Brown followed by lead Guitarist Amaury Altmayer, lead Guitarist Dario Parente, Bass Guitar Jimmy Wynen, and keyboardist and vocalist Clodagh McCarthy. The four guitarist’s face Baker as the opening tape for Operation:mind begins. Then all at once they turn, moving to the front of the stage playing the opening track and soon to follow timing his vocals, Geoff Tate steps onto the stage with the crowd cheering, the four guitarists move back as Geoff (wearing a hat and glasses) moves to the front and with his powerful voice starts singing and immediately the venue crowd joins in with him.
This wasn’t just another concert, this was a show by everyone on stage. With the lights dancing through the fog, everyone moved about the stage to different points displaying their amazing musicianship. Throughout the course of the show, Geoff would showcase each member, at times stepping back as each guitarist moved forward and wowed the crowd with their skills and interacting with them as well.
As most of us in the crowd had seen the Operation:mindcrime tour a few years ago here at the Gothic Theater, tonight was different, Geoff took the show to a higher level! As they moved from song to song, the stage presence of the band was something to witness. Keyboardist Clodagh was back next to Baker and you could see headbanging and singing. It was a real treat when Clodagh joined Geoff to sing with him but, when Clodagh joined Geoff on the song “Suite Sister Mary” the venue crowd loved it and as Geoff had be doing when the song finished, Geoff put a hand toward Clodagh an the other to the crowd and roar was deafening for her. As Operation:mindcrime came to an end, the crowd cheered and applauded as Geoff stood at the front of the stage thanking them.
But he didn’t leave, everyone relaxed for a few minutes as Geoff talked with his fans. He finished his talk with, “I’m American” and that led into the song from Operation:mindcrime II. When the band started “Jet City Woman” the crowd was as loud as it could be. To finish their set, the song that is my all time favorite, “Silent Lucidity”, the crowd sang along but in a much softer tone. As the crowd applauded, Geoff introduced his band members and then, one last song “Take Hold of the Flame” from the 1984 album, The Warning. The crowd cheered with the band members arm in arm taking their bows and waving goodnight. And an amazing night it was!
Operation:mindcrime are,
Lead vocals - Geoff Tate (Germany, USA)
Lead Guitarist - James Brown - (Ireland)
Lead Guitarist - Amaury Altmayer - (France)
Lead Guitarist - Dario Parente - (Italy)
Drums - Robert Baker - (USA) (He goes by Baker)
Bass Guitar - Jimmy Wynen - (Australia)
Clodagh McCarthy - (Ireland) Keyboards - Vocals (She also was vocalist in duet with Geoff for Suite Sister Mary
Setlist:
I Remember Now
Anarchy-X
Revolution
Operation:mindcrime
Spreading the Disease
The Mission
Suite Sister Mary
The Needle Lies
Electric Requiem
Breaking the Silence
I Don't Believe in Love
Waiting for 22
My Empty Room
Eyes of a Stranger
I'm American
Jet City Woman
Murderer?
If I Could Change It All
Empire
A Junkie's Blues
Silent Lucidity - preceded by band introductions
Take Hold of the Flame 1984
